Flanfire

Little did I know that, shortly after encouraging 14-year-old Althea Capra (of AE3) to do more acoustic music that she and bandmate Griffin Yu would form TheHeroCycle. I was even more clueless that this dynamic duo would start their own acoustic songwriter showcase for teens at Cafe Caffeine -- nor that 50 to 75 of their closest friends and some first-time listeners would routinely show up for what I am quickly learning are some of Austin's most honest, thought-provoking songwriters and gutsy performers -- none of whom are old enough to vote.

But then again, this IS Austin, so one should hardly be surprised. Last Monday, for example, I got to hear 16-year-old (soon to be 17?) jazz pianist Dylan Meek, who hails from Wimberley but has already begun making the rounds at the Elephant Room and similar venues in central Texas. Late into that evening he was jamming with the likes of Warren Hood! Jazz is but one of the art forms that Austin teens are eagerly exploring -- with both passion and developing talent.

Friday night (and, yes, the next of these shows is Friday, February 22nd) it was TheHeroCycle (Griffin and Althea) backed by (adult) bassist Gary Hart -- plus special guest Fabi, a 16-year-old elfin songwriter who brought up other members of her band The Silver Series for her final number. Talk about guts -- Fabi had a 104-degree fever earlier in the week! My favorite of hers was (maybe this is the title) "Never Too Old to Dance," or maybe it was (??) "The Same Sad Songs" (or is it, "In the Cage"?).

TheHeroCycle opened up with "Saturday Morning Moonshine," which can be found on their myspace page (note -- another TheHeroCycle hails from Vermont! so go to theherocyclemusic on myspace to find this band). The sizable, largely young audience was pin-drop silent, though maybe not totally still. On the first four songs, Althea just held the mike and sang -- "Flashing Lights" is just one of her songs that people will ask for over and over. [And, yes, the duo is playing Cafe Caffeine AND Botticelli's during SXSW -- and hopes to have "product" by then.]

When Althea switched to guitar for "Fever," Griffin switched to percussion box; later, he picked up an electric guitar to play rhythm on "Down," and went back to the box for "You Don't Have to Walk Alone," one of Althea's many songs with deep meaning. The second set opened with "Beauty in Action" (they sang this one for my Nancy last month!) and then it was three brand-new ones wrapped around AE3's "Borderlines." I REALLY liked "Sunshine State" (not a place but a state of mind!) and "Touch the Sky," written in Griffin's driveway just last week. Althea reminds me personally of a younger Aimee Bobruk -- who also encourages other musicians by hosting showcases and whose songs also challenge our souls and spirits.

OKAY -- Thursday night I DID go out to see Carolyn Wonderland AND Meagan Tubb and picked up BOTH of their brand-new CD's for review -- but I have to listen a few more times, so just hold your heartbeats. Briefly -- both records (and live shows) R-O-C-K -- and why not? Both of these wonderful women are strong lead guitarists with even stronger voices -- and yet both are very very feminine and compassionate -- and tons of fun. Gotta mentiion also that Candy Sanders and Natalie Zoe's new project - CandiLand - puts on a rockin' show that keeps getting better every Thursday HAPPY HOUR at the Saxon these daze.

Wednesday evening (no camera -- OOPS!) it was half an hour of the amazing Shotgun Party (with those gals wearing RED dresses!) and then over to Flipnotics' Triangle for the seven-course gourmet meal of songs from Nathan Hamilton. Two big bonuses -- Mike Meadows (of Porterdavis) playing the box (and other percussion!) with Nathan, and soulful tenor A. J. Roach stepping up from his comfortable chair to share three songs with us.

One can never say enough about Tuesdays at the Scoot Inn -- Hilary York and Aimee Bobruk are two wonderful, very different but so mutually supportive women (of whom I probably write too often). This night Hilary had Darwin Smith and Kullen Fuchs (as did Aimee) PLUS Julie Lowery (more on her later) -- loved that "Parlour Tricks." Aimee closed out the night with "So Human," a song NOT on her brand-new CD, "The Safety Match Journal" -- and one of the most compelling songs ever.

Guest stars for the evening included Mike Hall (that Texas Monthly writer, Wild Seed, and Woodpecker), who brought Julie Lowery (Fire Marshals of Bethlehem, The Service Industry, and of course the Woodpeckers) and longtime Wild Seed Randy Franklin with him -- and the Fundamentalists (minus one) -- Brennnen Leigh, Justin Kolb on bass, and Silas Lowe (switching back and forth with Brennen between mandolin and guitar) doing old-timey gospel numbers standing around an old-timey-style microphone. Now, I had seen Michael and Julie on stage together last at the Our Man Flynt benefit a year ago -- and it is so much fun to hear, "Baby You Scare Me," "America (the band, not the country)," "Revolution in Cuba," and even "Put Down that Pig," ESPECIALLY knowing that they will be back at the Scoot on another Tuesday soon for a repeat performance.

Flanfire -- Bringing LIFE to Austin music.